"He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."
Psalm 23:2-3
"There are three things that are too amazing for me,
...the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas, "
Proverbs 30:18-19
"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."
Genesis 9:13
"[The Son of God] will endure as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth."
Psalm 72:5-6
"[A person who trusts in God] is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers."
Psalm1:3
There are countless verses in the Bible that deal with nature. The splendor of nature, nature as a metaphor for God, nature as a symbol...
Nature stands for us as a testament to God's power, awesomeness, creativity, and nurturing. Is it any surprise, then, that people often feel closest to God and feel his presence in a very real way when they are out in nature?
My in-laws own a quarter section of land a few miles out of town. It's an untamed piece of land. It is densely treed, has a creek running through it, and a variety of wildlife that call it "home". My in-laws have built a very simple cabin on their land and retreat to this quiet little corner of the earth whenever they can.
There is something very holy and sacred about being out in nature. Perhaps it's just getting away from distractions that plague us in the city... or perhaps it's the splendor of being surrounded by God's creation. Either way, the quiet and untarnished beauty of nature has a way of opening our souls to hearing the Holy Spirit's whisperings.
There have been times when the magnificence of the natural world has overwhelmed me to the point of tears and I just had to whisper my prayers of praise and thanksgiving to the God who created it all. Nature gives us a glimpse of the Divine hand that created it all...
The beauty of a majestic landscape at sunset...
The ferocity and power of a tsunami, hurricane, or other storm...
The tenderness of a mother animal tending to her young...
The splendor of the mountains that reach to the heavens...
The detail of the insects that keep our world clean and fruitful...
The mysteries that have yet gone undiscovered...
The simplicity of a river-smoothed stone...
The complexity of the human body...
The renewal of all things through seasons and cycles...
The miracle that it all works together to sustain life!
While not everyone feels the same connection to God through nature, I think that it's hard not to be in awe of the wondrous creation before us. I pray that God would continue to reveal himself to me through nature. I hope that I never cease to be amazed by the magnificence of it all. I hope my heart always soars with wonder and gratitude when I consider God's artistry and engineering.
Hmm... I think I'm going to go for a walk! Perhaps I'll pass one of you on the trail!
Back in the day I had opportunity to scuba in the tropics. I would often dive on a coral reef and hover about an arms length above the fish, crabs and assorted sea life and watch their interactions. They were busy going about life fully aware I was there but doing their best to act like I wasn't. I was impressed by there beautiful and unique designs, designs so intricate that try as we might, we cannot explain there existence apart from God.
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